James Gitthens, 37

James Alan Gitthens 50, of Bremerton died Thursday from a lifelong battle with a rare blood disorder that caused numerous organ failures.

He was born in Stockton, CA., to Louis Leland and Wilma Mae (Brown) Gitthens. The family moved to Bremerton in 1965 for Jim's medical treatments. Jim graduated from East Bremerton High School in 1976 and the family returned to Stockton in 1977.

He worked as a welder for the Boilermakers Union and traveled the southwest building refineries for the union. He was proud to be a boilermeker.

He was forced to retire at a young age due to liver failure, and received a liver transplant in 1994.

We were fortunate to donate his body to science to U.W., in hope to help others.